The Institute of Directors Sierra Leone (IoDSL) has held its Certification and Rebirth Ceremony, marking a renewed drive to strengthen professional directorship, ethical leadership and corporate governance in Sierra Leone.
The ceremony, held on 25 September 2026 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, brought together representatives of the public and private sectors, professional institutions and the business community.
Highlights of the event included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Directors Sierra Leone (IoDSL) and the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, alongside the certification of 15 Directors who successfully completed a corporate governance training programme.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Rebirth and Certification Committee, Kobi Walker, described the occasion as a significant milestone in the Institute’s history, marking a renewed sense of purpose and the beginning of a new chapter in its development.
He said IoDSL’s mandate to promote sound leadership, ethical governance, professional excellence and institutional accountability was essential to the success of businesses and institutions and to Sierra Leone’s sustainable development.
Kobi Walker said the Institute’s future depends on active membership, professionalism and a commitment to maintaining high standards of directorship and governance.
“The occasion should not be regarded as an end but as a new beginning,” he said, calling for stronger collaboration and renewed determination to build an Institute capable of making a lasting contribution to national development.
Interim President of IoDSL, Amy E. Greene, said the rebirth represents more than a celebration, as it provides an opportunity to recognize the newly certified Directors while strengthening the Institute’s role in promoting leadership, professional integrity, accountability and responsible governance.
She said IoDSL is focused on building on its legacy, increasing value for members and developing the next generation of Directors capable of strengthening businesses and institutions.
Amy E. Greene also highlighted the Institute’s growing international engagement, including its relationship with fellow the Institute of Directors and the African Corporate Governance Network. She noted that IoDSL’s recent election to the ACGN Board provided an opportunity for Sierra Leone to contribute to wider efforts to advance corporate governance across Africa.
Speaking also at the event, Vice President 1 of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Dr. Modupeh Taylor-Pearce, said effective governance has become increasingly important amid competing economic, technological, social and ethical interests.
He said sound corporate governance is particularly important as Sierra Leone pursues private sector-led economic growth, adding that investment readiness and access to regulated capital markets are closely linked to the quality of governance within institutions.
Dr. Taylor-Pearce said the Chamber has been strengthening its own governance practices and believes that corporate governance certification for individuals nominated to serve on Boards should eventually become mandatory.
He said the Chamber’s position has formed the basis of its partnership with IoDSL, with the two institutions signing an MoU to strengthen collaboration.
Deputy Executive Director of the National Investment Board, Fatima Mahawa Sandi, said the rebirth of IoDSL came at an important stage in Sierra Leone’s pursuit of private sector development, investment promotion, innovation and increased participation in regional and international markets.
She said achieving those objectives requires more than capital, stressing the importance of credible institutions, ethical leadership and Directors capable of understanding their responsibilities to shareholders, employees, communities and the wider country.
Fatima Mahawa Sandi said good corporate governance is fundamental to attracting and retaining responsible investment, noting that investors consider institutional quality, predictability and governance practices when making investment decisions.
She disclosed that the National Investment Board plans to launch an online business registration system in November 2026 as part of efforts to improve corporate services and advance digital economic services.
She also called for greater collaboration between the NIB and IoDSL in areas including corporate governance training, investor relations, ethics, Board development and policy dialogue.
She also encouraged companies to comply with good governance standards and relevant provisions of the Companies Act 2009, while urging IoDSL to develop into a platform where Directors could exchange knowledge and promote high standards of governance.
The ceremony also featured a presentation by Michala Mackay titled “From Statue to Standard: The Future of Sierra Leone’s Boardrooms”, which focused attention on the need to move corporate governance beyond formal structures and into practical standards of conduct and decision making.
The presentation formed part of the broader discussion on how Directors and Boards could strengthen professionalism, accountability and effectiveness in Sierra Leonean institutions, particularly as businesses face changing economic, technological and regulatory demands.
Delivering the keynote address, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, said good corporate governance is fundamental to sustainable economic growth, institutional resilience and national development.
He said governance should not be treated merely as a compliance requirement but should encompass ethical leadership, accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship.
Dr. Ibrahim Stevens said strong Boards are essential to institutional resilience because they provide strategic direction, establish effective oversight, challenge Management and ensure that institutions operate sustainably.
He urged Directors to look beyond historical financial performance and pay greater attention to emerging risks, including inflation, exchange rate movements, interest rates, technology, cybersecurity and wider economic developments.
The Governor also stressed the importance of independent judgement, proper management of conflicts of interest and effective risk management.
He said Sierra Leone’s financial sector is undergoing digitalization and modernization, creating opportunities while also requiring stronger cybersecurity, data governance and technological oversight.
Dr. Ibrahim Stevens noted that the Bank of Sierra Leone’s Corporate Governance Guidelines for commercial banks and financial holding companies, which became effective in January 2024, had strengthened expectations relating to Board composition, competence, independence, committees and controlled functions.
He said Directors should regard their positions as responsibilities of trust rather than honorary appointments and should act with due care, diligence and integrity.
“Resilience begins in the Boardroom,” Dr. Ibrahim Stevens said, urging Directors to understand the risks facing their institutions, constructively challenge Management and maintain a long-term perspective.
Speaking on behalf of Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Minister of Trade, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay said the rebirth of IoDSL represents an important milestone for the private sector and national development.
He commended the Institute for surviving difficult periods and congratulated the 15 newly certified Directors, stressing that their Certificates represent not only the completion of professional training but also an obligation to uphold higher standards of accountability and integrity.
Minister Alpha Ibrahim Sesay recalled that the Vice President had launched Sierra Leone’s National Corporate Governance Code in January 2019, establishing expectations for ethical leadership, accountability, transparency and effective oversight.
He said the challenge now is to move beyond having governance principles on paper and ensure that they became part of the daily conduct of institutions.
He also called on IoDSL to become a serious partner in private sector development by providing evidence-based recommendations, engaging Government early in policymaking and helping identify regulatory and administrative obstacles affecting businesses.
Minister Alpha Ibrahim Sesay also urged Directors to use their influence to strengthen domestic production, develop local suppliers and support investment in areas such as energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, digital transformation and value-added services.
He said the country’s ambition should go beyond attracting investment to creating productive capacity, generating jobs, increasing incomes and enabling Sierra Leonean businesses to compete regionally and internationally.
He further welcomed the growing participation of women in corporate leadership, noting that 10 of the 15 newly certified Directors are women, and encouraged institutions to develop stronger pipelines for women and other qualified professionals.
According to him Government remains open to evidence and recommendations from IoDSL and encouraged the Institute to maintain a constructive partnership with Ministries, regulators and other institutions whose decisions affect the private sector.
A major highlight of the programme was the presentation of Certificates to 15 Directors who successfully completed a rigorous training programme.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed call for stronger corporate governance, professional directorship and ethical leadership, with the newly certified Directors expected to apply their training in strengthening the institutions they serve and contributing to a more accountable, resilient and competitive private sector in Sierra Leone.
